ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the impacts of coastal landscape change in Tōhoku’s Miyagi Prefecture post-3.11. Japan is an island nation with limited natural resources. Consequently, as the nation sped forward on its rapid industrialization in the post-WWII era, industrialization took place disproportionately in coastal areas at the periphery of political decision-making, highlighting the high potential for injustice. The region’s coastal community residents, traditionally comprised of members of the maritime industries, often had limited say in large development projects impacting their lives and livelihoods. Historically poor, and located far from political decision-making centers of power, their voices were often either not heard, or the full impacts of construction activities were not fully explained. With this as background, the chapter investigates the 3.11 disaster recovery (re)building, focusing on the impacts of the widespread lowering of mountains and raising of large seawalls has on coastal communities. Focusing on Matsushima Bay-adjacent communities, but also drawing upon experiences elsewhere in Miyagi Prefecture, the chapter looks at what the government failed to consider when choosing a hard science and technological “fix” to the “problem,” namely the culture and well-being of the people they claim to protect.
